Minneapolis residents can look forward to new strides in outdoor connectivity, with construction set to begin on a new segment of riverfront trail on July 8. This new trail will link Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook, providing a continuous bike and walk path that ties into the city's wider network of trails. According to an announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), this addition is part of a larger initiative to thoroughly connect North Minneapolis with the downtown riverfront and the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.
The work on this project, scheduled to be complete by late fall of 2024, will necessitate significant landscaping adjustments to ensure the trail has a safe slope and clear sight lines. Contractors are expected to quickly break ground and move to reshape the terrain, taking care to preserve as many trees as possible despite the necessity for some clearing. Users of the Overlook and the trails along West River Road up to Ole Olson Park will be pleased to find that these areas will remain open throughout the construction period.
The development of this trail comes after years of careful planning and community engagement. Originating in 2002 with the acquisition of land for Ole Olson Park, the project has followed a timeline that has seen the park renamed after community figure Orvin "Ole" Olson and the completion of the 26th Avenue North Overlook in 2021, which includes a 35-foot-tall beacon that lights up the riverfront at night. The trail's path was refined following public hearings and feedback sessions as recently as 2022.
Crucial to the project's progression was the acquisition of agreements with local businesses and railway companies. In 2023, the MPRB managed to successfully broker a deal with Continental Cement Company and, following suit in 2024, with BNSF Railway Company to situate the trail on and under their respective properties. These collaborations will allow the public to smoothly traverse underneath the BNSF railway bridge, which had previously been a challenge for connectivity in the area. Plans show that the strategic use of grading and landscaping will enable trail-goers to safely travel down the riverbank and back up to street level with ease.
The anticipated completion of the trail in 2025 is expected to bolster the recreational appeal of North Minneapolis, further integrating the neighborhood with the scenic beauty of its natural surroundings. The endeavor received a significant boost in 2020 when the MPRB was awarded a $3 million grant in the state infrastructure bill, easing the financial path toward realizing this long-envisioned project.
